Can-body-forming machine.



P. R. HAHNEMANN.

CAN BODY FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 15. I913.

1 ,200, 1 90. Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

I l SHEETS-SHEET I.

Inventor:

mus puns m. PnOm-LIYHQ, WASHING mN. n. c,

P. R. HAHNEMANN.

CAN BODY FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. I5. 1913.

Patented Oct. 3,1910

H SHEETS-SHEET 2- Inventor:

P. R. HAHNEMANN.

CAN BODY FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 15. 1913- 1,200,190. Patented Oct. 3,1916.

H SHEETS-SHEET 3- Inventor:

' by M 'WM P. R. HAHNEMANN.

CAN aonv FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I5, I913.

Patented Oct. 3,1916.

1 I SHEETS-SHEET 4.

P. R. HAHNEMANN.

CAN BODY FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00115.1913.

Patented Oct. 3,1916.

H SHEETS-SHEET 5- I l aw a v P. R. HAHNEMANN. CAN sonv FORMING MACHINE.

- APPLICATION FILED OCT. 15, I913. 1,200,190. Patented Oct. 3,1916.

H SHEETS-SHEET 6- P. R. HAHNEMANN.

CAN BODY FORMING MACHiNE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 15. 1913.

H SHEETS-SHEET 7 w// 145 //v149 I lnvenmr:

m1 NORRIS Pcrms co. Fuonrulun. WASNmumN. u M

0,, Patented 001;. 3,1916.

P. R. HAHNEMANN..

CAN BODY FORMING'MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 15-. 1913.

1,200,190. Patented Oct. 3,1916.

ll SHEETS-SHEET 8- P.- R. HAHNEMANN.

. CAN BODY FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT.15 1913- ].,QQQIQQ. Patented Oct. 3,1916.

H SHEETS-SHEET 9- P. R. HAHNEMANN.

CAN BODY FORMING MACHINE.

APPITICATION FILED OCT. 15. 191a.

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' Inventor;

Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

P. R. HAHNEMANN. CAN BODY FORMiNG MACHINE.

PL'ICATION FILED OCT. I5, 19!

inyentor:

r Atty.

CAN-BODY-FORMING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented (Pct. 3, 1916.

Application filed October 15, 1913. Serial No. 795,270.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL R. HAHNEliiANN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Mount Vernon, in the county of VVestchester and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments inCan-Body-Forming Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to machines for antomatically shaping sheet-metalblanks to the desired forms of body portions of containers commonlyknown as tin cans, and then oining or hermetically securing to eachother the meeting edges of the formed blank, which is then ready for theedge-flanging operation preliminary to the. securing thereto of the topand bottom or end portions of the container by the process known asdouble seaming.

The invention more particularly contemplates a can-bodyforming machineto which the fiat blanks, from which said bodies are to be formed, arefed in succession, the machine first operating upon each blank to foldor bend back upon itself each of two opposite edges to provide what maybe termed a hook, said hooks being located on opposite sides of theblank whereby,.when said end edges are brought together, they may bemade to engage each other, or be interhooked, the machine thereafterautomatically curving or bending each blank to the desiredconfiguration, interlocking the hooks at the end edges thereof,compressing the interhooked portions to form a substantially solid andtight seam or joint, and then ejecting the formed body from the machine.

One of the principal objects of thepresent invention is the provision ofa machine which, while all of the steps of its operation are automatic,from the feeding thereinto of the flat, blank to the ejectment therefromof the formed body, is nevertheless comparatively simpler, and thereforeless ek- I pensive, in maintenance as well as in first cost, than othermachines of this character now in use, and'yet one in which nothing inthe way of efficiency and dependability is sacrificed for simplicity andcomparatively low cost of manufacture and maintenance.

One of the more serious objections to many of the can-body formingmachines now in use is the comparatively high cost of extra parts forsubstitution in order to equip 7 the machine for any one of a number ofdifferent sizes and shapes of canbo-dies, not to speak of the time andeffort usually required to effect this substitution of parts andreadustmen't of the machine. My invention therefore further contemplatesa machine in which simple and easily-effected changes of comparativelyinexpensive parts thereof will suffice to adapt the same for theproduction of any one of the various standard sizes and shapes of canbodies.

In addition to embodying in the machine the general improvements for thepurposes outlined above, the invention may be said to reside morespecifically in improved means for forming the oppositely disposed hooksat the end edges of the blank, for expanding the horn or mandrel andmounting the same in such manner as to make it easily and readilyremoved and replaced and with equal facility properly adjusted in themachine, and in the improved mechanism employed for actuating thefolding wings which cooperate with the horn or mandrel to form theblanks, at the same time properly timing operations thereof.

v In addition to the above, the invention further contemplatesimprovements in the general design of the machine and in the locationand arrangement of its various parts.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which vFigure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2is a plan View thereof; Fig. 8 is a section taken substantially on theline 3-3 of Fig. 2, more particularly designed to show the arrangementof parts of the notching press; Fig. 4: is a detail side elevation ofone set of feed and holding bars, as hereinafter described; Fig, 5 is anenlarged section taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 2, showingthe edging or hook-forming device on one side of the machine, the partsbeing shown in an open position Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5,showing the parts in a closed position after formation of the hook;Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged views similar to Figs. 5 and 6, respectively,of the edging or hookforming device on the other side of the machine;Fig. 9 is an enlarged front elevation of the blank-forming mechanism,the parts being shown in an open position; Fig. 10

is a view similar to Fig. 9 with the. parts almost closed, and Fig. 11 asimilar view with the parts fully closed; Fig. 12 is a section takensubstantially on the line 1212 of Fig. 11, some of the parts being shownin elevation; Fig. 13 is a detail section taken substantially on theline 1313 of Fig. 12, showing in elevation the eccentric pin hereinafterdescribed; Fig. 14 is an enlarged section taken substantially on theline 1414 of Fig. 1, showing the details of the lock-seaming plunger;Fig. 15 is a detail section taken substantially on the line 1515 of Fig.12, showing additional details of the expanding horn and ejectinentbars; Fig. 16 is a detail side elevation, partly in section, of the endof one of the ejectment bars, and Figs. 17 to 23, inclusive, arediagrammatic views illustrating the effect of each of the steps of thecomplete forming operation, from the flat blank to the lock-seamed canbody.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, numeral 31 designates the heavybase of the supporting frame which includes the up right 32 and thepedestal 33, the latter being recessed to receive the end of the bed 34which is securely bolted to said frame. At the outer end of the bed 34is provided the bracket 35 so shaped as to furnish a convenient holderfor a suitable supply of the fiat blanks of sheet metal, such as therectangular blank 4; shown in Fig. 17, which are to be successively fedinto the machine.

Mounted on the bed or bed-plate 34, in slide-ways 36, .36, are twocastings 37 and 37, the former being on what I shall term the right-handside and the latter on what I shall term the left-hand side of themachine. In order to provide for operation upon banks of differentwidths, to form can bodies of correspondingly different dimensions, aswill subsequently appear, these castings 37 and 37 should be laterallyadjustable with reference to each other. To this end, I have shown twoscrew-shafts 38 38, mounted in the bed 34, said shafts beingrigl1t-and-left threaded through lugs 39 and 39, respectively, on theunder side of the castings 37 and 37*, as shown in dotted lines in Fig.2. On said shafts 38 38 are mounted pinions 4O 40 which mesh with a gear41 on the stud-shaft 42, the latter having a squared end and thus beingadapted to be rotated by a crank-handle or wrench. It will therefore beapparent that when the shaft 42 is rotated, the screw-shafts 38 38 willoperate to move the castings 37 and 37 toward or away from each other,according to the direction of rotation of the shaft 42, in theslide-ways 36 36, and rigidly retain the same in any position ofrelative adjustment.

A reciprocating bar 43 is mounted on slides 44 44, and to thisreciprocating bar are secured the feed bars 45 45 which have slidebearings in the castings 37 and 37. These feed bars 45 45 arecorrespondingly recessed at intervals, and in each of these recesses isprovided a spring-pressed pawl 46, adapted to engage the end edge of ablank during movement of said feed bars in one direction and advancesaid blank, and to ride freely under said blank during movement of saidfeed bars in the other direction, in a manner substantially asillustrated in Fig. 4, although this figure shows stationary barscorrespondingly provided with pawls, for the purpose of preventingbackward movement of the blanks, as hereinafter described. To the endsof the reciprocating bar 43 are connected, through the medium of links47 47, the ends of the arms 48 48 mounted on the rock-shaft 49. Theshaft 49 is rocked from the shaft 50 by means of arms 51 and 52 on saidshafts, respectively, and the connecting-rod 53, the shaft 50 beingrocked by means of the arms 54 thereon and the pitman 55 pivoted to oneface of the gear 56 on the shaft 57, suitably journaled in the frame ofthe machine. The gear 56 is driven from the main driving shaft 58, whichpreferably carries the fly-wheel 59, by means of a gear 60 on said shaft58 in mesh with a gear 61, which, in turn, is in mesh with the gear 56.It will be apparent that in this manner the bar 43 will be reciprocated,and therewith the feed bars 45 As these feed bars are moved in onedirec' tion, the pawls 46 46 will engage the end edge of a blank andadvance the latter with said bars, while when said bars are moved in theother direction the free ends of the pawls will be depressed against theactions of their springs and ride under said blank which is left in itsadvanced position.

To prevent backward movement of the blank under forces of friction, Imount av stationary bar 62 onthe inner face of each of the castings 37and 37, preferably cured thereto by means of cap-screws 63 63. Thesestationary bars 62 62, like the reciproeating bars 45 45, are recessedat intervals and in these recesses are provided the spring-pressed pawls64 64, these pawls be ing adapted to engage the end edge of each blankas it is advanced and hold the same against backward movement after ithas been brought to a position where it is to be operated upon by theedging or hookforming devices. Furthermore, as the machine is designedto be run at high speed, it is desirable, if not essential, to providemeans for preventing advancement of each blank a distance in excess ofthat desired, due to inertia, and for this purpose I pro vide holdingbars 65 suspended by means of links 66 and 67, pivoted at 68 and 69,respectively, to brackets 70 and 71. The link 67 has an upwardlyextending arm 72 adapt ed to engage a stop 73 on the bracket 71 and thuslimit swinging movement in one direction of said holding bars 65, whichmay be raised and lowered by means of a lever 74 controlling pivotalmovement of the link 67. The bars are provided at regular intervals withspring-pressed plungers 7 5 7 5 provided with heads 76 7 6 whichyieldingly press against the upper faces of the advancin blanks,generating sufficient friction to overcome inertia and insure the arrestof movement of the blank in precisely the proper position for thedesired operation thereupon, but with pressure insuiiicient to interferewith advancing movement of the blank.

It has hereinbefore been stated that the movement of the advancing blankis intermittent, the several operations on said blank each beingperformed when the blanks are in conditions of rest. The first operationis that of notching the end edges of the blank, as shown in Fig. 18, inorder to insure the provision of a lock seam throughout the major middleportion of the formed blank with merely overlapped portions at the endsof the seam or joint. A look seam, so called, necessarily comprises atleast four layers of metal, and a lock seam which extends throughout theentire length of the can body is objectionable in that the presence offour layers of metal interfere with the formation of hermetic end sealsby the double seaming process of attaching the tops and bottoms of thecontainers. therefore been found to be desirable, if not necessary, toprovide for the formation of a lock seam between the points at which theformed blank is flanged for the double seaming operation, leaving themetal in the flanges merely overlapped and therefore comprising but twolayers of metal. This is the purpose of the notching of the flat blank.For this purpose, the blank is first carried under a set of fournotching devices 77 77, coupled in pairs, each pair being mounted on thecastings 37 and 37*, respectively. The notching dies themselves are ofcommon and well-known construction, performing their usual functions,and need not be described in detail here. The improved method ofoperation, however, is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, with particularreference to Fig. 3, from which it will be seen that each pair ofnotching devices has mounted therebetween a shaft-pinion 78 in mesh withracks 79 which carry the punching dies. Each shaft pinion 78 has securedthereto a gearsegment 80 the teeth of which mesh with the teeth in theupper end of a vertical rack 81 slidable in the bearing 82 secured tothe casting 37. At the lower end of the rack 81, disposed on said rackat an angle of 90 from the teeth at the upper end of said rack, areteeth (shown in dotted lines in It has Fig. 3) which mesh with the teethof a cyllndrical gear segment 83 on the rock-shaft 84L journaled in thebed 34.

Secured to the end of the rock-shaft 84, at what I have termed the lefthand side of the machine, is an arm 85 which is oscillated from the gear86 by means of the connecting pitman 87, the gear 86 being mounted onthe shaft 88 which is suitably journaled in the bed ea and being drivenfrom the main driving shaft 58 by means of the gear 60 on said shaftdriving a gear 89 on the shaft 90 through the medium of an idler gear61, said shaft 90 carrying a pinion 91 in mesh with the gear 86. It willtherefore be apparent that when the shaft 84 is rocked, through the geartrain just described, proper dies being provided at the end of and belowthe rack-bar 79, the former will be vertically reciprocated to notch theend edges of the blank a as shown in Fig. 18.

The notching mechanism is timed to opcrate when the blank has been firstbrought to a condition of rest and the feed bars 45 4 5 are returning toengage the neXt succeeding blank. After the notching operation, theblank is'again engaged by the feed bars and is again advanced to properposition in the edging or'hook-forming mechanisms, the latter consistingin two somewhat similar devices, the device 92 for turning down orhooking one edge of the blank being mounted on the casting 37 on what Ihave termed the right-hand side of the machine, and the device 92 forturning up or hooking the other edge of the blank being mounted on thecasting 37 on the left-hand side of the machine. This arrangement mightobviously be reversed, the various parts being arranged to correspond,without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The casting 37 is shown provided with a rectangular opening formed byits side walls and two partitions 93 93, between which is mounted, on apivot rod 9-1, a casting 95 in the form of a bell-crank lever having twoupper arms 96 bridged by the connecting piece 97 which carries one ofthe cooperating edging tools 98, the length of the latter being slightlyin excess of the Width of the blank to be hooked-or the length of thecan body to be formed. The lower arm 99 of the bellcrank lever carriesat its end the roller 100, adapted to travel in cam-slot 101 formed on acylindrical sleeve 102 on the shaft 88 between the bearings 103 103.Also-mounted be tween the partitions 93 93 is the pivot rod or shaft10-1 upon which is pivoted another bell-crank lever, the upper arm 105of which is preferably in the form of an elongated solid member,substantially corresponding in length to the length of the connectingpiece 97 carried by the upper arms 96 of the lever 95, and the lower arm106 of which is provided with a roller 107 adapted to travel in acam-slot or camgroove 108 also formed in the cylinder 102. The upper arm105 is provided with a recess within which is secured the other co0perating edging or hook-forming tool 109. Similarly mounted in the casting37, adjacent to the tool 109, is a third cooperating tool 110, thelatter substantially corresponding in length to the length of the othertools and being provided with a tapering edge, presented to the tool109, which determines the shape of the hook to be formed. V] hen theblank is being fed into the edging or hooking device, the edge of theblank between the notches is engaged by the lower face of the taperededge of the tool 109 and slightly turned, the various parts being thenin the position substantially as shown in Fig. 5. When advancingmovement of the blank is checked, in the manner described, the lever 95is rocked through the medium of the cam-slot 101, causing the flat lowerface of the tool 98 to press down upon the blank a, just back of theedge thereof, thus holding said edge rigidly against the edge of thetool 110 and continuing such pressure throughout the edging operation.Immediately following operation of the lever 95, the camgroove 108 rocksthe arm 100 of the other lever, causing the tool 109 to move in the areof a small circle in the direction of the tool 110.

It has been explained that the lower face of the edge of the tool 109 istapered, in order to engage and preliminarily turn the edge of theblank, and it will be noted that the upper face of the edge of the toolis also tapered, in order that the same may pass under the tapered lowerface of the edge of the tool 110, carrying therewith the edge of theblank which is thus bent around the edge of the tool 110, in a downwarddirection, as shown in Fig. 6. Similarly, the device 92 for turning upthe opposite edge of the blank, is correspondingly mounted in thecasting 3'7 on the opposite side of the machine. In this device, thebell-crank lever 95 corresponds in all essential respects to the lever95 in the device 92, being pivoted on the pivot rod or shaft 9 f carriedby the partitions 93 which form parts of the casting 37 and beingsimilarly rocked through the medium of the cam-groove 101 in the sleeve102 on the otherend of the shaft 88, within which is adapted to travelthe roller 100 at the end of the arm 99 of said lever. The tool 98mounted at the end of the upper arm 96 of the lever 95 is the same asthe tool 98 at the end of the upper arm of the lever 95 in the device92, and while the. upper tapering face of the edge of the tool has noparticular function when the edge of the blank is to be down-turned, ithas a function in the device 92 which is designed to up-turn the edge ofthe blank, as will shortly appear.

The tool 110 in the device 92 is precisely similar to the tool 110 andis similarlyalthough oppositely mounted. On account of the fact that thedirection of movement of the tool 109 must carry the working edgethereof over, instead of under, the edge of the tool 110, the upper arm105 of the lever carrying the former is slightly longer than the arm 105of the corresponding lever in the device 92, and is somewhat differentlydisposed, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, although the lower arm 100 of thelever in the device 92 is the same and similarly operated.

When the blank is being fed into the edging or hooking device 92*, theedge of the blank between the notches, on this side of the machine, isengaged by the upper face of the tapered edge of the tool 109 andslightly turned in an upward direction, the various parts being then inpositions substantially as shown in Fig. 7 Advancing movement of theblank being checked, in the manner described, the lever 95 is rockedthrough the medium of the cam-slot 101 causing the flat lower face ofthe tool 98 to press down upon the blank a just back of the edgethereof, rigidly clamping the same between said tool 98 and the tool 110in the same manner as that described in connection with the edgingdevice 92 on the opposite side of the machine. It will be noted,however, that the tool 98 is provided with a tapering edge which has anupper face 111, so inclined and so located, after operation of the lever95 as to cotiperate with the lower face of the tapered edge of the tool109, so that when the arm 105 is rocked, in the same manner as thatdescribed in connection with the arm 105, the edge of the blank a willbe upwardly bent around the edge of the tool 98*, as shown in Fig. 8. Ashereinbefore stated, the sleeves 102 and 102 are mounted on the shaft 88which is rotated through the train of gears 86, 91, 89, 61 and 60 fromthe driving shaft 58.

Upon completion of the fedging or hooking operation, the blank is againimmediately engaged by the feed bars 45 and advanced in the mannerdescribed to the forming mechanism. When the edged blank has beenbrought to a condition of rest in the forming mechanism, it is locatedimmediately above a sectional and substantially cylindrical body 112,known in this art as anexpanding horn or mandrel. This expanding horn ormandrel 112 comprises three sections; two substantially similar andoppositely disposed outside sections 113 and 114, having outer faces ofsubstantially cylindrical form, and a middle section 115, having anupper face of correspondingly cylindrical form and with which theoutside sections or wings 113 and 114 have pivotal connection throughthe medium of lugs 116 and 117 on the inner faces of the sections 113and 114, respectively, fitting into recesses 118 and 119 in the middlesection 115 and mounted on the pivot rods 120 and 121. In the outside ofeach of the two sections or wings 113 and 114, I provide two recesses122, each adapted to receive the head 123 of an adjusting screw 124,these screws 124 projecting through the sections 113 and 114 and intothe section 115. These screws are not threaded into the sections 113 and114, which slide freely thereover, whereby the 1 heads 123 serve tolimit outward movement of the wings 113 and 114 on their pivots 120-and'121. The horn 112, when the wings 113 and 114 have been moved awayfrom each other to the limit prescribed by the heads 123 of the screws124, should form a substantially true, although broken, cylinder.

The horn 112 is supported through the middle section 115, which isprovided with a flat tail-piece 125 secured to the top of the pedestal33 preferably by means of bolts 126,

' as shown in Figs. 2, 12 and 15.

Journaled in the top of the upright 32 is a shaft 127 which is rotatedfrom the main driving shaft 58 by means of the gear 60 on the latter inmesh with a gear 128 on the short shaft 129 journaled in bracketsprojecting from the upright 32, the shaft 129 being further providedwith a bevel-gear 130 meshing with a corresponding gear 131 on thevertical shaft 132, and the. latter being provided with anotherbevel-gear 133 at the top thereof in mesh with a corresponding gear 134on the shaft 127. On this. shaft 127 is mounted a disk 135, on the innerface of. which is provided a cam-slot 136 within which travels a roller137 at the top of a vertically reciprocating casting 138 which slides inthe ways 139 in the upright 32. To the casting 138 is secured,preferably by screw-bolts 140, a member 141 the bottom face of which isof circular or cylindrical configuration, the curvature being of substantially of the same diameter as that of the horn 112. In the middleof this circular face of the member 141 is a longitudinal groove orrecess adapted to receive and contain the plate or bar 142 which iscarried by a plurality (preferably three) of springpressed plungers 143,vertically mounted to slide in the member 141 and yieldingly press thebar 142 in a downward direction. To give rigidity to the structure, Ialso prefer to provide a screw-bolt 144 the head of which impingesagainst the lug or arm 145.

projecting from the casting 138.

The cam-slot 136 is so positioned and disposed in the disk 135 as tocause downward movement of the casting 138 and the parts carried therebyimmediately following the positioning of a blank in the formingmechanism. The first effect of this downward movement is the clamping ofthe blank between the plate or bar 142 and the middle section 115 of thehorn 112 with suficient yielding force to hold said blank securely inplace, continued downward movement causing said bar 142 to recede intoits recess while the curved lower face of the member 141 impingesagainst the blank and bends the latter to the configurationsubstantially as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 9.

The forming mechanism proper comprises two wings 146 and 146, the formerbeing located on the right side and the latter on the left side, asthese terms have heretofore been used by me in describing this machine.These wings are pivoted at 147 and 14 respectively, to the member 141,and the configuration of the inner face of each of them is substantiallycylindrical, the diameter approximating that of the horn 112 which theyare'adapted to partially envelop. To the outside of the wing 146 ispivoted at 148 a rod 149, the other end of which is pivoted on aneccentric pin 150 on the outer face of the disk 135. Similarly, a rod149 is pivoted at 148 to the wing 146 the other end of which rod ispivoted on an offset portion 151 of the pin 150, so that the pivot ofthe rod 149 on the disk 135 is eccentric to the pivot of the rod 149.This construction is best illustrated in Fig. 13, wherein I have shownthe pin 150 as comprising a portion 152 set into the disk 135 andsecured therein by means of a key 153 (Fig. 12), a reduced portion 151projecting therefrom and carrying the small concentric disk 154, and anend portion eccentrically located on said disk, the rod 149 beingpivoted on the portion 151 and the rod 149 being pivoted on saideccentric end portion, both rods being retained on their pivots by meansof the collar 155.

The cam-slot 136 in the disk 135 having operated in the manner describedto depress the member 141 and bend the blank a. to the configurationshown by the broken lines in Fig. 9, and the wings 146 and 146 havingbeen partially closed by the rods 149 and .149 which are movingdownwardly as the eccentric pin 150 revolves with the disk 135 in thedirection of the arrow, said wings are finally completely closed aroundthe horn 112', carrying therewith opposite halves of the blank a, but byvirtue of the eccentricity of the end portion of the pin 150, upon whichthe rod 149 is pivoted, with respect to the portion 151 of said pin,upon which the rod 149 is pivoted, the wing 146 'is caused to closeslightly in advance of the wing 146, and is so timed that when theclosure is complete, the end edges of the blank are in the relativepositions substantially as illustrated in F ig 21. In the bottom of themiddle section 115 of the horn 112, I provide a longitudinal slot withinwhich is set a die-plate 156 having a longitudinal recess in the lowerface thereof for the reception of the interhooked edges of the blankwhich are designed to be compressed therein to form the lock-seam of thecan.

The two outside sections or wings 113 and 114 of the horn 112 areprovided with lugs 157 and 158, respectively, located at the ends ofsaid sections nearer the bed 34:. These lugs are adapted to be engagedby the heads of adjustable screws 159 and 160 in the ends of a pair oflevers 161 and 162. These levers 161 and 162 are mounted on a rock-shaft163 which is journaled in the pedestal 33, which shaft is rocked bymeans of an arm 16% mounted on the end thereof, the end of said armcarrying the roller 165 op eratively associated with the cam 166 on theshaft 88, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The

configuration of the cam 166 is such as to rock the shaft 163immediately following complete closure of the folding wings 1 16 and146*, when the ends of the blank are in the relative positionssubstantially as illustrated in Fig. 21. The rocking of the shaft 163operates through the levers 161 and 162 to raise the adjustable screws159 and 160, which act against the lugs 157 and 158 to force the outerhorn-sections 113 and 114 away from each other, thus having the efiectof slightly expanding the horn. This expansion causes the hooked edges];and c of the blank to engage each other, as shown in Fig. 22, theinterhooked edges now being ready for compression to form the lockseam.

Mounted to slide vertically in ways 167 I in the frame, and locatedbelow the forming mechanism just described, is the preferably solidcasting 168 carrying the tool or die 169 of the same or slightly greaterlength than the length of the desired can-seam. The member 168 isvertically reciprocated by means of a pitman 169 preferably connectedtherewith by means of a ball (170) and socket joint, operated from theshaft 57 by means of the crank 171. These parts are so proportioned andrelated that the tool or die 169 is forced upwardly imme-.

diately following the interhooking operation, when the edges of theblank are in the relative positions shown in Fig. 22, and theinterhooked' portions of the blank are thereby forced into andcompressed within the recess in the lower face of the die-plate 156,thus completing the formation of the lockseam. The shaft 163 is nowrocked to de- 1 press the levers 161 and 162, withdrawing the heads ofthe screws 159 and 160 from the lugs 157 and 158 on the outerhornsections 113 and 11 1 and permitting contraction of the horn for theremoval of the formed can body. This removal is accomplished bya pair ofwhat I term knockoif bars 172, slidable in suitable grooves or recesses173 in the top of the middle section 115 of the horn, and each providedwith an upwardly spring-pressed pawl 17% which rides freely under thecan body during movement of the bar in one direction but the end ofwhich is sprung upwardly to engage the end edge of the can body uponmovement in the other direction. These bars 172 are secured to the baror elongated plate 175 which, in turn, issecured to the reciprocatingbar 4:3, hereinbefore described, whereby the same mechanism whichadvances a blank to the forming device re moves the formed can bodytherefrom. When pushed off the horn, the formed body 1s preferablydelivered to a conveyer and carried thereby to a soldering machine,

the latter forming no part of the present invention.

With reference to the pivotal connection between the rod 14:9 and thefolding wing 146, it is pointed out that the rod M9 is providedwith aslot within which the pivot 1 18 rides, a. spring-pressed plunger 176being mounted within the end of said rod and bearing upon the pivot.This construction provides for a certain amount of elasticity in theoperation of these parts, as is more or less essential when the rod 149is on-center and the machine is running at high speed.

It is to be noted that in operating and timing operations of the formingwings 14:6 and 1 16, I have eliminated all cams and levers, which areobjectionable in that they necessitate more or less cumbersome andcomplicated mechanism, involve the use of parts which are necessarilythe subjects of excessive wear and are difficult to replace, limit thespeed at which the machine can be successfully operated, and areexceedingly difficult to adjust to properly time and satisfactorilyperform their respective functions. Through the employment of a singlepin which is not only eccentric with respect to the rotating elementupon which it is mounted, but which provides pivots for the formtricwith respect to each other, I provide a construction which enables me toeasily and quickly secure substantially perfect ad justment andsubstantially perfect timing of operations.

Furthermore, when it is desired to re move the expanding horn ormandrel, for purposes of repair or replacement, it will be noted that itis only necessary to remove the screws 126 which secure the tail-piece125 lng-wing-operating rods which are eccenof the middle section 115 ofthe horn to the pedestal 33, whereupon the horn in its entirety may bereadily withdrawn. It Wlll also be noted that when an imperfect blank isfed into the machine, such as one of insufficient dimensions, as veryfrequently happens, it may be readily removed by the operator before ithas done any harm by merely raising the accessible hand-lever 74, whichhas the effect of raising the holding bars 65, the latter returning atonce to proper operative positions when said lever is released.

Attention is furthermore directed to the fact that all of the adjustingscrews employed in connection with the expanding horn are readilyaccessible, and permit of a fine adjustment rapidly and withoutdifficulty.

lVith respect to the edging or booking device, it is pointed out thatthrough the employment of two levers carrying edging tools, oneoperating to hold the blank and the other to edge it, both levers havingconnection with the same actuating element, I secure results by directmovements, without complicated mechanism, simply and dependably.

Many modifications of minor details of my improved can-body formingmachine will doubtless readily suggest themselves to those skilled inthe art to which it appertains, and I therefore do not limit myinvention to the specific construction herein shown and described.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with aseries of mechanisms for forming a can body from a flat sheetmetalblank, said series comprising preliminary notching and edging mechanismsand final forming and sealing mechanisms, of a track upon which saidblanks travel into and through said preliminary mechanisms, means foradvancing said blanks progressively along said track, and a frame whichincludes guide rails paralleling said track for retaining said blanks inposition to be acted upon by said advancing means and said preliminarymechanisms, said frame having freedom of movement in a direction toeffect withdrawal of the same to afford access to the blanks normallypositioned thereby.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with aseries of mechanisms for forming a can body from a fiat sheet-metalblank, said series comprising preliminary notching and edging mechanismsand final forming and sealing mechanisms, of a track upon which saidblanks travel into and through said preliminary mechanisms, means foradvancing said blanks progressively along sald track, a

yieldingly supported frame which includes guide rails paralleling saidtrack for retaining said blanks in position to be acted upon by saidadvancing means and said preliminary mechanisms, said frame being freeto move in a direction effecting withdrawal of the same from said trackto afford access to the blanks normally retained in position thereby,and manually operable means for efiecting such withdrawal.

3.'In a machine of the character described, the combination, with aseries of mechanisms for forming a can body from a fiat sheet-metalblank, said series comprising preliminary notching and edging mechanismsand final forming and sealing mechanisms, of a track upon which saidblanks travel into and through said preliminary mechanisms, means foradvancing said blanks progressively along said track, a frame whichincludes guide rails paralleling said track for retaining said blanks inposition to be acted upon by said advancing means and said preliminarymechanisms, and yielding means on said rails for braking said blanksagainst movement under inertia, said frame having freedom of movement ina direction to effect withdrawal of the same to afford access to theblanks normally positioned thereby.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with aseries of mechanisms for forming a can body from a flat sheet-metalblank, said series comprising preliminary notching and edging mechanismsand final forming and sealing mechanisms, of a track upon which saidblanks travel into and through said preliminary mechanisms, means foradvancing said blanks progressively along said track, agravity-positioned frame which includes guide rails paralleling saidtrack for retaining said blanks in position. to be acted upon by saidadvancing means and said preliminary mechanisms, and yielding means onsaid, rails for braking said blanks against movement under inertia, saidframe being mounted to permit of ready elevation of the same against theforces of gravity to afford access to the blanks normally positionedthereby.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with aseries of mechanisms for forming a can body from a fiat sheet-metalblank, said series comprising preliminary notching and edging mechanisms and final forming and sealing mecha nisms, of a track upon whichsaid blanks travel into and through said preliminary mechanisms, meansfor advancing said blanks progressively along said track, agravity-positioned frame which includes guide rails paralleling saidtrack for retain ing said blanks in position to be acted upon by saidadvancing means and said preliminary mechanisms, yielding means on saidrails for braking said blanks against movement under inertia, said framebeing mounted to permit of ready elevation of the same against theforces of gravity to afford access to the blanks normally positionedthereby, and manually-operable means for effecting the elevation of saidframe.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with aseries of mechanisms for forming a can body from a flat sheet-metalblank, of means for advancing said blanks progressively into and throughthe machine, a movable frame checked against movement in the directionof the advancing blanks and including guide rails paralleling saiddirection of movement for retaining said blanks in position to be actedupon by said advancing means, and manually operable means for movingsaid frame in a substantially opposite direction to effect withdrawal ofthe same and afford access to the blanks in transit.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with aseries of mechanisms for forming a can body from a flat sheet-metalblank, said series comprising preliminary notching and edging mechanismsand final forming and sealing mechanisms, of a track upon Which saidblanks travel into and through said preliminary mechanisms, means foradvancing said blanks progressively along said track, a pivotallysuspended frame which includes guide rails paralleling said track forretaining said blanks thereon in position to be operated upon by saidadvancing means and said preliminary mechanisms, and yielding means onsaid rails for braking said blanks against movement under inertia, saidframe having a limited oscillatory movement in a direction to affordaccess to the blanks normally positioned thereby.

S. In a machine of the character described, the combination, with aseries of mechanisms for forming a can body from a flat sheet-metalblank, said series comprising preliminary notching and edging mechanismsand final forming and sealing mech anisms of a track upon which saidblanks travel. into and through said preliminary mechanisms, means foradvancing said blanks progressively along said track, a pivotallysuspended frame which includes guide rails paralleling said track forretaining said blanks in position to be acted upon by said advancingmeans and said preliminary mechanisms, yielding means on said rails forbraking said blanks against movement under inertia, said frame beingcapable of limited oscillation to afford ac cess to the blankspositioned thereby, and manually operated means for facilitatingoscillation of said frame.

9. In a machine for forming can bodies -ing and folding mechanisms andto said interhooking and compressing mechanism, means for progressivelyadvancing said blanks along said track, means for finally ejecting theformed can body, and a frame which includes guide rails paralleling saidtrack for retaining said blanks in position to be acted upon by saidadvancing means and said notching and folding mechanisms, said framebeing free to move in a direction effecting withdrawal of the same toafford access to the blanks normally positioned thereby.

10. In a machine for forming can bodies from flat sheet-metal blanks,the combination, with mechanisms for notching opposite edges of eachblank near the ends thereof, mechanisms for folding over said edgesbetween the notches in opposite directions, mechanisms for bringing saidoppositely folded edges into interhooked relation and compressing theinterhooked portions into a tight seam, of a track upon which saidblanks travel into and through said notching and folding mechanisms andto said interhooking and compressing mechanisms, means for progressivelyadvancing said blanks along said track into the first of said mechanismsand to each of the remaining mechanisms successively, means for finallyejecting the formed can bodies, a frame which includes guide railsparalleling said track for retaining said blanks in position to be actedupon by said advancing means and by said notching and foldingmechanisms, said frame being free to move in a direction effectingwithdrawal of the same to afford access to the blanks normallypositioned thereby, and manually operable means for facilitating suchwithdrawal.

11 In a machine for forming can bodies from flat sheet-metal blanks, thecombination, with mechanism for notching opposite edges of each blanknear the ends thereof, mechanism for folding over said edges between thenotches in opposite direc-tions, mechanism for bringing said oppositelyfolded edges into interhooked relation and compressing the interhookedportions into a tight seam, of a track upon which said blanks travelinto and through said notching and folding mechanisms and to saidinterlocking and compressing mechanisms, means for progressivelyadvancing said blanks along said track, means for finally ejecting theformed can body, and a frame which includes guide rails paralleling saidtrack for retaining said blanks thereon in position to be acted upon bysaid advancing means and said notching mechanisms, said rails beingprovided with yielding. means serving as brakes to overcome inertia inthe advancing blanks, and said frame being free to move in a directioneffecting withdrawal of the same to alford access to the blanks normallypositioned thereby.

12. In a machine for forming can bodies from flat sheet-metal blanks,the combination, with mechanisms for notching opposite edges of eachblank near the ends thereof, mechanisms for folding over said edgesbetween the notches in opposite directions, mechanisms for bringing saidoppositely folded edges into interhooked relation and compressing theinterhooked portions into a tight seam, of a track upon which saidblanks travel into and through said notching and folding mechanisms andto said interhooking and compressing mechanisms, means for progressivelyadvancing said blanks along said track into the first of said mechanismsand to each of the remaining mechanisms successively, means for finallyejecting the formed can bodies, a frame which includes guide railsparalleling said track for retaining said blanks in position to be actedupon by said advancing means and said notching and folding mechanisms,said rails being provided with yielding means serving as brakes toovercome inertia in the advancing blanks, said frame being free to movein a direction effecting withdrawal of the same to afford access to theblanks normally positioned thereby, and manually operable means forefi'ecting such withdrawal.

13. In a machine for forming can bodies from flat sheet-metal blanks,the combination of mechanism for notching opposite edges of each blanknear the ends thereof, mechanism for folding over said edges between thenotches in opposite directions, mechanism for bringing 'said oppositelyfolded edges into interhooked relation and compressing the interhookedportions into a tight seam, means for progressively advancing saidblanks to the first of said mechanisms and to each of the remainingmechanisms successively and finally ejecting the formed can bodies, amovable frame checked against movement in the direction of the advancing blanks and including guide rails which vparallel the directionof movement of said blanks for retaining said blanks in position to beacted upon by said advancing means, and manually operable means formoving said frame in the other direction to effect withdrawal of thesame to afford access to said blanks in transit.

14. In a machine for forming can bodies from fiat sheet-metal blanks,the combination of mechanism for notching opposite edges of each blanknear the ends thereof, mechanism for folding over said edges between thenotches in opposite directions, mechanism for bringing said oppositelyfolded edges into interhooked relation and compressing the interhookedportions into a tight seam, means for progressively advancing saidblanks intothe first of said mechanisms and to each of the remainingmechanisms successively and finally ejecting the formed can bodies, anda movable frame checked against movement in the direction of theadvancing blanks and including guide rails paralleling the direction ofmovement of said blanks for retaining said blanks in said advancingmeans and overcoming inertia, and said frame being movable in the otherdirection to effect withdrawal of said rails from the blanks positionedthereby to afford access to said blanks in transit.

15. In a device of the character described, the combination, withmechanisms for simultaneously notching opposite edges of a sheetmetalblank preliminary to forming the same into a can body, and means foradvancing blanks progressively into and through the machine and properlypositioning each thereof in transit in said mechanism, of means foractuating each of said notching mechanisms operable in any one ofvarious relative positions of the latter, whereby the same may belaterally positioned to accommodate blanks of varying dimensions, andmeans for positioning both of said mechanisms and their actuatingmeans'from a single adjusting element.

16. In a device for notching the edges of a sheet-metal blankpreliminary to forming the same into a can body, the combination,

with means for advancing said blank and properly positioning the same insaid device, of notching dies and means for actuating one thereof whichcomprises a rack and a pinion, primary actuating means, and connectingmeans between said pinion and said primary'actuating means'to rock saidpinion, said dies with their supports and said connecting means beingpositionally adjustable as a unitary instrumentality with relation tosaid primary actuating means.

17, In a device for notching the edges of progressively fed 7sheet-metal blanks preliminary to forming each thereof successively intocan body, the combination, with means for advancing each blank andproperly positioning the same in said device, of

'notchingdies, means for operating said dies which comprise a rack and apinion, means for rocking said pinion, primary actuating means, andconnecting means between said rocking means and said primary actuatingmeans to actuate said die-operating means in any one of variouspositions of adjust-

